Tree mounted weapon-supporting assembly

ABSTRACT

A weapon-supporting assembly including a base, an extension member extending from the base, and a strut, wherein the base, the extension member, and the strut are configured as disclosed herein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/306,630, filed Feb. 22, 2010, entitled “TREE MOUNTEDWEAPON-SUPPORTING ASSEMBLY” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/320,357, filed Apr. 2, 2010, entitled “TREE MOUNTED WEAPON-SUPPORTINGASSEMBLY,” all of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety, including all references cited therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to a weapon-supporting assemblyand, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a tree mountedweapon-supporting assembly for supporting at least a portion of theweight of a weapon.

2. Background Art

Weapon-supporting assemblies have been known in the art for years, andare the subject of numerous patents, including: U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,163entitled “Hunter's Shooting Rest And Method Of Using Same,” U.S. Pat.No. 5,723,808 entitled “Adjustable Rest,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,103entitled “Gun Support,” U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,920 entitled “AdjustableFirearm Brace,” U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,501 entitled “Bow Hanger,” andUnited States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0094910entitled “Tether Apparatus For A Weapon”—all of which are herebyincorporated herein by reference in their entirety including allreferences cited therein.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,163 appears to disclose a shooting rest forsupporting a firearm while a hunter is hunting from a tree stand, a treeseat, a ground blind or a field, including a mounting bracket and an armpivotally attached thereto to allow horizontal aiming adjustment havinga pair of forks from which a cradle is supported for resting a firearmtherein. Vertical aiming adjustment is allowed by swinging the firearmforward or backward within the cradle and/or adjusting the cradle alongthe fore-end of the stock of the firearm.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,723,808 appears to disclose an adjustable restcomprising a support base; a mounting strap for attaching the supportbase to a rigid structure, such as a tree, above the head of a user; afirst support member slidably connected to the support base; a secondsupport member pivotally connected to the first support member whereinthe second support member can be pivoted about at least two axes; athird support member pivotally connected to the second support member,wherein the third support member is adjustable in length; and a restingdevice operatively connected to the third support member for allowing aselected device to be rested thereon.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,103 appears to disclose a device for supporting agun from a tree where the gun has a scope and the device supports thegun from the scope. The device comprises a plate adapted to be attachedto a tree by the use of an adjustable strap that surrounds the tree, anarm pivotally attached to the plate and extending therefrom so that anelastic member may be attached to the end of the arm distal from theplate, and a harness having a body and a first and second belt connectedto the elastic member. The first and second belt encircle the front endand back end of the scope, respectively, and support the gun. The firstand second belts are adjustable so that the gun can be balanced withinthe harness.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,491,920 appears to disclose an adjustable firearm bracefor supporting the first end of a firearm. The brace includes a basethat has an attaching means for attaching the base to a generallyvertical support, an arm having a first end that is pivotally connectedto the base for generally horizontal rotation of the second end of thearm about the base, and structure for supporting the muzzle end of afirearm being attached to the second end of the arm.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,722,501 appears to disclose a bow hanger which may bereadily installed on a tree or other generally vertical standard iscomprised of a relatively small diameter steel rod which is bent at asubstantially right angle at the rear end which fits into and isretained by a clevis included on a ratchet type of tightening device fora strap adapted to encircle and be tightened about the tree. The forwardend of the rod includes an upwardly angulated tip for retaining the bowin a relatively fixed position. The tip as well as an adjacent portionof the rod is covered by a resilient tubing member. A push nut is fittedon the rear end of the rod to hold the rod in place on strap tighteningdevice. An angularly offset end portion is included at the rear end forcontacting the tree and operates to maintain the forward end of the rodin a generally horizontal position.

United States Patent Application Publication Number 2007/0094910 appearsto disclose: (1) an apparatus for releasably securing a weapon to anelevated platform such as a hunting stand comprising a tether and aharness; (2) an apparatus that prevents the weapon from striking theground when the weapon is dropped from the elevated platform; (3) anapparatus that reduces the forces acting on the weapon when the weaponis dropped from the elevated platform; (4) an apparatus that will helpprevent the weapon from accidentally discharging if the weapon isdropped from the elevated platform; and (5) an apparatus that will alsohelp prevent damage to the weapon if the weapon is dropped from theelevated platform.

While the above-identified patents and published applications do appearto provide weapon-supporting assemblies, their configurations remainnon-desirous and/or problematic inasmuch as, among other things, none ofthe above-identified assemblies appear to be configured to effectivelyengage and support a firearm such as a crossbow in a substantiallyvertical position—among other things.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a treemounted weapon-supporting assembly, which, among other things, remediesthe aforementioned detriments and/or complications associated with theuse of the above-identified, conventional weapon-supporting assemblies.It is further therefore an object of the present invention to provide atree mounted weapon-supporting assembly, which, among other things isprovided to support at least a portion of the weight of a weapon, suchas a crossbow and to engage and support the firearm in a substantiallyvertical position.

These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent inlight of the present specification, claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Certain embodiments of the present invention are illustrated by theaccompanying figures. It will be understood that the figures are notnecessarily to scale and that details not necessary for an understandingof the invention or that render other details difficult to perceive maybe omitted. It will be further understood that the invention is notnecessarily limited to the particular embodiments illustrated herein.

The invention will now be described with reference to the drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a weapon-supportingassembly constructed in accordance with the present invention showing,among other things, the weapon-supporting assembly secured to a tree andsupporting a weapon;

FIG. 2 of the drawings is a perspective view of a weapon-supportingassembly constructed in accordance with the present invention showing,among other things, the weapon-supporting assembly unsecured to a treeand unassociated with a weapon;

FIG. 3 of the drawings is a perspective view of an embodiment of aweapon-supporting assembly;

FIG. 4 of the drawings is a perspective view of two retainer inserts;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the weapon-supporting assembly of FIGS.1 and 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the weapon-supporting assembly of FIGS.1, 2 and 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the weapon-supporting assembly of FIG. 3attached to a tree and supporting a weapon;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are perspective views of the weapon-supporting assembly ofFIGS. 3 and 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of separate embodiments ofweapon-supporting assemblies placed side-by-side; and

FIGS. 11-13 are perspective views of weapon-supporting assembliesconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and described herein in detailseveral specific embodiments with the understanding that the presentdisclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principlesof the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to theembodiments illustrated.

It will be understood that like or analogous elements and/or components,referred to herein, may be identified throughout the drawings with likereference characters.

In accordance with the present invention, the tree mountedweapon-supporting assemblies shown herein are provided for supportingand/or controllably and releasably retaining at least a portion of theweight of a weapon, such as a bow, crossbow, rifle, shotgun, pistol,firearm, etcetera. In general, the weapon-supporting assembly isassociated with a tree at a predetermined distance above the groundand/or a conventional tree stand. The weapon-supporting assembly acts asa support that controllably and releasably retains the weapon in such away that the weapon can be easily transitioned from a substantiallyvertical position to a firing position.

Referring now to the collective drawings (i.e., FIGS. 1-13), and to FIG.1 in particular, a perspective view of a first embodiment ofweapon-supporting assembly 10, hereinafter sometimes referred to asassembly 10, is shown which generally comprises base 12, extension 14and strut 16. It will be understood that weapon-supporting assembly 10may be fabricated from a unitary piece of material or, alternatively,from a plurality of pieces. It will be further understood that FIGS.1-13 are merely representations of one or more embodiments ofweapon-supporting assemblies of the present invention. As such, some ofthe components may be distorted from their actual scale for pictorialclarity and/or image enhancement.

In one, preferred embodiment of the present invention, base 12 comprisesa substantially rectangular plate and is preferably fabricated frommetals, non-metals, plastics, wood, ceramics, glass, compositematerials, and combinations of the same, etcetera. Base 12 is providedwith one or more retainers 18, and in one embodiment, two retainers 18extend from a top surface of base 12. The retainers 18 cooperate withbase 12 to form loops for receiving one or more straps 20 therethroughfor securely strapping base 12 to tree 22.

Base 12 also preferably includes one or more anchor plates 24 forengaging the outer surface of tree 22. In one embodiment, anchor plates24 comprise substantially C-shaped plates that extend across andintersect base 12. Anchor plates 24 are designed to distribute forcescreated during the strapping of base 12 to tree 22 via straps 20.Moreover, the forces created by strapping base 12 to tree 22 aredistributed to the anchor plates 24 and through ends 26 causing theengagement of ends 26 with the outer surface of tree 22 to preventassembly 10 from moving vertically along tree 22.

Extension 14 comprises an elongated member that extends substantiallyperpendicularly from base 12. Extension 14 has terminal end 28 havingretainer 30 for engaging at least a portion of a weapon such as crossbow32 (see FIG. 1). In one embodiment, retainer 30 is an upturned tab,which acts as a stop to prevent the weapon from unintentionally slidingoff of terminal end 28. It will be understood that retainer 30 shouldhave a height that allows retainer 30 to be easily inserted troughstirrup 34 of crossbow 32, yet prevent the crossbow or other weapon fromsliding off of extension 14. It will be understood that retainer 30 maybe releaseably connected to extension 14 such that retainer 30 may beremoved and replaced with different retainers 30 designed to engagedifferent weapons.

To support greater weight, strut 16 of weapon-supporting assembly 10 isprovided to add rigidity and strength and to prevent extension 14 fromundesired downward deflection. Strut 16 extends at an upward angle frombase 12 to extension 14.

In operation, weapon-supporting assembly 10 is joined to tree 22 byplacing base 12 against tree 22 such that ends 26 of anchor plates 24engage the outer surface of tree 22. Straps 20 are inserted throughretainers 18 and looped around tree 22. Straps 20 are tightened downurging base 12 towards tree 22 such that ends 26 of anchor plates 24 toengage the outer surface of tree 22. Once weapon-supporting assembly 10is joined to tree 22, stirrup 34 of crossbow 32 may be hung on terminalend 28 of extension 14 to place crossbow 32 in a substantially verticalposition. To remove crossbow 32 from assembly 10, crossbow 32 is liftedslightly until stirrup 34 can be removed from terminal end 28 ofextension 14.

Referring collectively now to FIGS. 3 and 7-10, additional embodimentsof weapon-supporting assembly 110 are shown. Weapon-supporting assembly110 is constructed similarly to weapon-supporting assembly 10, namelyweapon-supporting assembly 110 includes base 112 that is identical inconstruction to base 12.

More specifically, extension 114 comprises an at least partially tubularshaft that is pivotally connected to base 112 to allow extension 114 tobe selectively vertically positioned. Terminal end 128 of extension 114is tubular in shape and designed to receive retainer inserts 136.Retainer inserts 136 serve as a stop to prevent a weapon fromunintentionally sliding off of terminal end 128 of extension 114.Retainer inserts 136 may include an elongated shaft having cradle 138disposed on a terminal end thereof for releaseably engaging at least aportion of a weapon. Cradle 138 may include brackets, tabs, hangars,etcetera. Elongated shaft of retainer inserts 136 allow cradle 138 toextend and retract from extension 114. Retainer inserts 136 can belocked into position via locking mechanism 140, such as a threadedfastener that extends through extension 114 to engage elongated shaft ofretainer insert 136.

Strut 116 comprises a tubular support that is pivotally attached to base112 and operatively connected to extension 114 via armature 142.Armature 142 comprises a shaft that is designed to be slidably insertedinto strut 116 to selectively vary the vertical displacement ofextension 114. It will be understood that armature 142 is also pivotallyconnected to extension 114. Armature 142 can be locked into position vialocking mechanism 144, such as a threaded fastener that extends throughstrut 116 to engage armature 142.

In operation, weapon-supporting assembly 110 is joined to tree 22 in amanner identical to weapon-supporting assembly 10. The vertical positionof extension 114 can be varied by slidably inserting or removingarmature 142 from strut 116 and locking armature 142 in place vialocking mechanism 144. Additionally, the length of extension 114 can bevaried by slidably inserting or removing retainer insert 136 fromterminal end 128 of extension 114 and locking retainer insert 136 vialocking mechanism 140. Once weapon-supporting assembly 110 is joined totree 22 and properly adjusted, a weapon may be supported byweapon-supporting assembly 110 in a substantially vertical orientationsimilar to weapon-supporting assembly 10.

Appendix A, which is attached hereto, further discloses aweapon-supporting assembly having a mount for a camera and/or videorecorder. Additionally, Appendix A discloses a weapon-supportingassembly having a mount for an umbrella and/or other protective shield.

The foregoing description merely explains and illustrates the inventionand the invention is not limited thereto except insofar as the appendedclaims are so limited, as those skilled in the art who have thedisclosure before them will be able to make modifications withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

1. A weapon-supporting assembly, comprising: a base; an extension memberextending from the base; and a strut, wherein the base, the extensionmember, and the strut are configured as disclosed herein.
 2. Aweapon-supporting assembly as is provided herein having at least one ofthe disclosed functional, structural and/or ornamentalcharacteristic(s).